The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-08-27
OpelOusas. $.


THE PROSPEROUS CAPITAL OF THE EMPIRE PAR"
IsH OF ST. LANDRY.
Its Business and Social Features and Attrac-
tions for the eImmigrant--Large Stock and
other Agricultural Interests.
N. o. Times Democrat.
| OPELoUsAs, La, July 80, 1887.
With the single exception of Natchitoches.
Opelonsas, the capital of st. Landry, is prob
ably the oldest town in the State of Louisiana
outside of New Orleans. Opelousas is an In
| dian word, dating back to the time when the
red man r0amed unmOlested ON the plains
Like many Indian names, it is pleasantly en-
phonious. 1t is the class of names which all
lovers of characteristic nomenclature would
like to see substituted for the many common
| place titles now in vogue.
The record Office of an old town is always
an interesting place to visit 1t is especially
so in Opelousas, where mass of important
papers is watched over by the genial clerk and
his leutenants. The regular records go back
to 1907, when the Office was established.
| Spanish titles, however, are here dating from
l765 to 1905, which latter epoch marks the
end OF the Spanish post. When originally
settled by the Spaniards, Opelousas was
known as Spanish Town Documents niea
show that there was litigation in the Supreme
Court as early as 1871.
| The marriage index of course commences
| With the first month of the record Office
probably with the first day, for the good peo
| pie of ST. Landry parish have from time I'M
memorial manifested an intense dislike TO
running in single harness. Five hundred
marriage licenses were issued last year, and
that has been about the average for many
years. The formation of the new parish OF
/ Acadia has recently cut OH about one quarter
of st. Landry, but it is singular or rather
plural fact that as yet the marriages show no
| falling off, as it those concerned lad res0Iy-
/ ed to keep upsth record under any cireum-
stances.
The old records of Opelousas are, as rule.
in splendid condition, many OF them as clear
and legible as when first drawn out. One
| gentleman in the office told how when some
time ago his grandfather celebrated the
sixty fifth anniversary of his wedding day
the original certificate was procured from
the record office and formed conspicuous
ornament ON the centre piece at the supper
table,
In early times st. Landry was large pro-
vince like Attakapas on the south. One by
one, parishes have been sliced off. There are
men still living who have ridden from the
Sabine river, 100 miles west, in order to vote
at election time In those days the polling
places were kept open week.
Having established the antiquity OF this
charming town, it is in order to emerge from
the little brick record Office and face the
really fine new courthouse erected last year
at cost of $22, ,000 Somewhat ecclesiastical
in it's external appearance, this structure is
remarkable for its complete interior, which
has been planned so as to insure the utmost
convenience in the dispatch of business.
The courthouse stands in public square, In
the midst of a grass parterre, while the
houses around, with their pointed roofs ana
old-time architecture, are decidedly pletu-
rescue.
Tie air of repose that first strikes the vi
sitor to Opelousas is destined to give place
to surprise when he moves among the mer-
chants, notes the size of their stores, the ex-
tent and variety of the goods, and learns the
volume of
Il TRADE OF THE TOWN.
Thirty years ago Opelousas was almost en-
| tirely French, but it has now become largely
Angiicized The population is 24O0 and the
city assessment about $3.50, 600. There are
over thirty solid business houses with good
general trade The annual shipments include
$4,000 bales of cotton, $4,000 sacks of rice,
700 hogsdeads of sugar, 1000 barrels Of mo-
} lasses, and q very large amount OF poultry
and eggs. The town derives heavy trade
from points whose produce ia shipped from
elsewhere.
These figures show what an unusual amount
of commerce turks beneath the quiet and sub
dued atmosphere of Opelousas. They also
speak eloquently of the magnificent territory
of whose fertile soil they are the fruits. Any
one desirous of seeing Louisiana crops at
: their best should visit ST. Landry parish just
! now Cotton, sugar, corn-eyerythin is in
sunerb condition, and results promise to be
the most satisfactory that have been egpe
rienced since the war. :.
The arabic lands around Opeiousas vii
: grow almost anything, marketable, ana oJ
> iudicious fertilizing with pea vines or cottoI
!, seed the yields are wonderfully increased
l Besides the staples cotton, sugar, corn ant
2 2 eats, grasses of almost every kind thrive here
The peavine affords valuable food for cat
tie and is great fertilizer. Corn ana Germal
:. miIlet is most successfully raised, as are veg
= etabsss in endless variety. Fruit does nota
: bly we'll Enormous and delicious peaehe
= are grown by the farmers, while plums
!. grapes, figs and pecans appear IN slmlia
= profusion.
Of great Importance are
4 THE STOCK INTERESTS
e of this section. 1t is very gratifying to b
t able to present strong list Of gentlemen rail-
= ing thoroughbred and fine graded stock
d Mr. G.. c. Duson, Durhams.
n Mr.. J. M. Ware, Jerseys and horses.
y Rev. T. J. Hough, Jerseys.
n Mr.. A. H. Generes, Holsteihs
n Mr.. r. b. Blanks, Holsteins.
n Messrs. Offutt, Lyons & Co., Brahmas.
e Mr.. j. E. Pelton, Dev0ns.
l. Messrs Dnrio & Co., horses and cattle.
a. MIR. j. o. Chacher6, horses and mules.
sr Mr.. E. w. Sylvester, Cotswold sheep.
u farms. Mr.. Silyesters sheep are especial
ID fine and much spoken of. The prospects q
p regards horses are worthy OF peculiar NJ
Is tice. Superb stations have been brought int
to the parish, and it is confidently claimed ths
u within few years st. Landry will have th
best horses in the State. A well-to-de Kel
st tucky firm who have been investigating tn
to question are about to commence operation
ae on an extensive scale, with perfect Gonfiene
er in the success of their enterprise. Anotht
q branch of stock raising which promises
~ bring in a golden harvest is that of thorough
10. bred jacks and jennes. Last winter was 9;
all ceedingly mild, the grasses were good almo
Mt entirely through the season and stock reqni
to ed very little hay.
de With such powerful practical proofs of I'll
10 value of ST. Landry lands 1t ia certain thl
1 the price at which they may be purchased
is very low. For $5 to $50, according to il
Dg proyements and location, is fair gener
at statement, but it will be well for all who a
, ! interested to correspond with some of Il
rk merchants or with the Southwestern Loui
er ana Land Company, whose headquarters a
or at Opelousas
With all the wealth of the generous SO
there is one respect in which Opelousas
distinctly behind. It has no manufacture
r,s no industries of any kind. The inhabitan
ice are keenly alive to this want and will
,he OFFER SERIOUS INDUGEMENTs
to all who care to avail themselves of t
!. opening. rice mill could be made to p
handsomely, and much stock would be tax
in Opelousas. Equally desirable and sure
success would be eotton-mili and o cottt
%gnf3Hd